The Justice for Our Stolen Children camp was started in late February to protest racial injustice and the disproportionate number of Indigenous children apprehended by child-welfare workers. The camp has grown to 14 teepees.

Some protesters met with government officials on July 2 and have said they aren’t going anywhere.

Martell, 35, visited the Regina camp over a week ago and said that it was powerful to meet everyone and share stories. He said he’s suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental-health issues since his son’s death.

He said that he felt compelled to go back to his hometown of Saskatoon to help others and doesn’t have any plan to leave at the moment.

“I just want something positive to come out of this,” Martell said.

“That’s why I’m here – to make sure changes happen in the foster-care system so something that happened to my son and me won’t happen to anybody else.”